In Micah 6:8, we read: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
He cringed as he listened to the preacher read the verse from the prophet Micah. His heart sank. There was no way he could meet God’s requirement.
He remembered times of disobedience since a small child. He thought he was smart, no one watching him. The cookies Mother told him not to eat, the change from Daddy’s dresser. Little things that didn’t matter.
But they developed into larger things. Money from the benevolent fund where he worked, short changing a client--all creating a crust of hardness around his heart--and hopelessness.
No, justice and mercy could never be his. Just a pie in the sky. Despair reigned in his life.
Until he heard the rest of the story. A story that told no man whether rich or poor, could meet the requirements God had put into place. A story of God, the Father, sending God, the Son, into the world to fulfill the requirements of “good,” to take his place for only God is Good. A story of hope and forgiveness and love.
As he listened God’s chisel chipped away at the hardness around his heart and tenderized it with His redeeming love. He fell to his knees. A man desiring to do what is good. To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord.
Kingdom Thinking. When I think all is lost and hopeless, in the darkest moments of my life, the light of the Lord Jesus shines brightly. Not only to reveal my savior, but to spotlight the cross where my sins belong. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the requirements. He has promised never to leave nor forsake me. His arms are open wide. For you, too. Won’t you come to Him? He loves you with an everlasting love.
He cringed as he listened to the preacher read the verse from the prophet Micah. His heart sank. There was no way he could meet God’s requirement.He remembered times of disobedience since a small child. He thought he was smart, no one watching him. The cookies Mother told him not to eat, the change from Daddy’s dresser. Little things that didn’t matter.
But they developed into larger things. Money from the benevolent fund where he worked, short changing a client--all creating a crust of hardness around his heart--and hopelessness.No, justice and mercy could never be his. Just a pie in the sky. Despair reigned in his life.
Until he heard the rest of the story. A story that told no man whether rich or poor, could meet the requirements God had put into place. A story of God, the Father, sending God, the Son, into the world to fulfill the requirements of “good,” to take his place for only God is Good. A story of hope and forgiveness and love.
As he listened God’s chisel chipped away at the hardness around his heart and tenderized it with His redeeming love. He fell to his knees. A man desiring to do what is good. To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord.Kingdom Thinking. When I think all is lost and hopeless, in the darkest moments of my life, the light of the Lord Jesus shines brightly. Not only to reveal my savior, but to spotlight the cross where my sins belong. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the requirements. He has promised never to leave nor forsake me. His arms are open wide. For you, too. Won’t you come to Him? He loves you with an everlasting love.